West Ham United further justified in Jesse Lingard transfer stance
West Ham can feel justified in their decision to not award Jesse Lingard a contract at the London Stadium as the forward still remains without a club.
After a period training with the Hammers in the summer, it soon became clear they had no serious intention of re-signing the free agent.
Lingard opted to try his luck abroad as he started training with Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq last month, though his situation is still the same.
According to a report by Goal on Wednesday (11 October), Lingard has only been awarded a “training contract” with Al Ettifaq, who like West Ham are seemingly reluctant to commit.
The report claims that Lingard scored in a friendly against Al-Khaldiya SC, yet there is still no movement in terms of a full-time contract.
Given the 32-cap England international has now been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in May, it is not looking good for Lingard.
This is not a slight on the player as such, but rather further proof that West Ham were right to cut ties with Lingard when they did.
If he is struggling to win over Al Ettifaq, then it is fair to say this is not the same Lingard that West Ham fans remember from a couple of years ago.
It would have been easy for David Moyes to talk the board into offering Lingard a short-term deal, but that would have been needlessly throwing money away.
The club have received plenty of praise for their transfer activity in the summer, and this is a further tick in the ‘good choice’ column.
Lingard may yet revive his career elsewhere, but based on these developments in the Middle East, do not bet on that happening anytime soon – if at all.
In other West Ham news, Moyes is reportedly looking to strengthen in two areas next year.